The Pushkar Fair, also known as the Pushkar Camel Fair, is one of India’s largest and most famous traditional festivals. Held annually in the town of Pushkar, Rajasthan, it typically takes place in October or November.
Pushkar is known all over the world for its sacred lake. Devotees from all over the world visit Pushkar to take a plunge in the sacred water. The fest is full of colours and people throng to make the most of it. Pushkar fair is held once in a year during the Hindu month of Kartik. It begins on the Kartik Shukla Ekadashi (11th Day) and continues till the full moon day (Kartik Purnima).
The fair attracts many tourists from all over the world. It is an exemplary socio-economic fair where the religious faith and commercial interest of human society co-exist. It embodies the true festive spirit of India. Villagers from all over the state gather together and enjoy a welcome break from the harsh life of the desert. They dress in their best multi-hued attire and exotic jewelry. The fair has a vibrant display of rural India with colourful markets selling silver artifacts, jewelry, local crafts, and art.
The fair has two components viz camel trading and religious rituals. Camel trading, the main attraction for tourists, happens during the initial five days and subsequently, it concludes when religious devotees begin to take holy baths at the famous Pushkar Lake. It is believed that by taking a dip in the holy Pushkar Lake on Kartik Poornima the sins of the lifetime are washed away.
In addition to the camel trading, there are also many other attractions of the festival like races, camel polo matches, folk performances, puppet shows, best breed contests, bridal competitions, mustache competitions, acrobatics, ethnic shopping, body tattooing names.
The history of Pushkar Fair states that on the full moon day of Kartik month, all the 330 million Hindu deities visit and bless the devotees. Legend goes that once Lord Brahma wanted to perform “Maha-Yagna” and was searching for a peaceful place. He released a swan with a lotus in its beak and let it fall on earth. Pushkar is the place where the lotus fell which later resulted in the formation of a lake. Pushkar thus derived its name in Sanskrit which means blue lotus flower. It may also be derived from the word Pushpa meaning flower and Kar meaning hand. Another belief is that Brahma intoned the lotus flower to kill a demon, Vajiranash. During the process, the petals of the lotus flower fell on three different places in and near Pushkar. Later Lord Brahma performed a yagna to protect these places from demons.
To offer aahuti, Brahma and his wife Saraswati were needed but since she was not there, Brahma married a local Gujjar community girl Gayatri to accomplish the Ahuti. Upon this Goddess Saraswati got very angry and cursed Lord Brahma that he would not be worshipped anywhere on the earth except this place. From that day onwards there are no other temples of Lord Brahma and only the Gujjar community prays for him.
Key Highlights of the Pushkar Fair:
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Camel Trading: The fair is renowned for its camel trading market, where thousands of camels and other livestock are bought and sold. It’s a vibrant spectacle with traders and buyers haggling over prices.
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Religious Significance: Pushkar is home to the Brahma Temple, one of the few temples dedicated to the Hindu god Brahma. The fair coincides with the Kartik Purnima festival, which is considered auspicious for bathing in the sacred Pushkar Lake.
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Cultural Activities: The fair features a variety of cultural events, including traditional Rajasthani music and dance performances, folk art displays, and competitions like camel races and mustache contests.
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Local Crafts: Visitors can explore stalls selling local handicrafts, jewelry, textiles, and traditional Rajasthani foods.
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Tourism: The Pushkar Fair attracts tourists from around the world who come to experience the unique blend of spirituality, culture, and commerce.
The Pushkar Fair is celebrated with a rich blend of cultural, religious, and commercial activities. Here’s a detailed look at the various aspects of the celebration:
1. Camel Trading and Livestock Market
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Camel Trading: The fair is famous for its large camel market where traders bring camels to buy, sell, and trade. Camels are decorated with colorful beads, cloth, and ornaments to attract buyers.
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Livestock Market: Besides camels, the fair also includes the trading of horses, cows, and goats. The livestock market is a bustling hub of activity, with traders negotiating deals and showcasing their animals.
2. Religious Observances
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Pushkar Lake: Pilgrims come to bathe in the sacred Pushkar Lake, believing it purifies them of sins. It’s a significant spiritual ritual during the fair.
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Temples: The Brahma Temple, one of the few temples dedicated to Brahma, is a focal point for religious ceremonies. Devotees offer prayers, perform rituals, and seek blessings.
3. Cultural Events
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Folk Performances: Traditional Rajasthani music and dance performances, including Ghoomar, Kalbelia, and Bhavai, are a major attraction. Folk artists perform on makeshift stages or in open areas.
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Competitions: Various competitions are held, such as camel races, mustache contests, and bridal beauty contests. These events are lively and engaging, drawing crowds of spectators.
4. Local Crafts and Cuisine
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Market Stalls: Vendors set up stalls selling Rajasthani handicrafts, including colorful textiles, jewelry, pottery, and paintings. It’s a great place to shop for souvenirs.
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Food: The fair offers a range of traditional Rajasthani cuisine, including street food like kachoris, pakoras, and sweets. Food stalls provide a taste of local flavors.
5. Parades and Processions
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Grand Processions: The fair often features parades and processions with decorated camels, horses, and other animals. These processions are vibrant and showcase traditional Rajasthani attire and customs.
6. Evening Activities
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Campfire Gatherings: In the evenings, visitors and locals gather around campfires to enjoy traditional music, dance, and storytelling.
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Stargazing: The clear desert skies provide excellent stargazing opportunities, adding a serene and magical element to the festivities.
7. Tourist Experiences
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Camel Rides: Tourists can enjoy camel rides around the fairgrounds and the surrounding desert, offering a unique way to experience the landscape.
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Photography: The fair offers incredible opportunities for photography, with colorful scenes of camel markets, cultural performances, and desert vistas.
Pushkar Lake and Kartik Purnima:
- Sacred Bathing: The Pushkar Lake is considered one of the holiest pilgrimage sites in Hinduism. Devotees believe that a dip in the lake during the Kartik Purnima festival washes away sins and brings spiritual merit.
- Brahma Temple: Pushkar is home to the Brahma Temple, a rare shrine dedicated to Brahma, the Hindu god of creation. The presence of this temple adds to the town’s religious importance, especially during the fair.
Kartik Purnima Festival:
- Full Moon Celebration: The fair coincides with Kartik Purnima, the full moon day in the Hindu lunar month of Kartik. This day is considered auspicious for religious rituals and pilgrimage. It marks the end of the Diwali festival and the beginning of winter.
पुष्कर मेले और “सबसे सुंदर ऊंट” की कहानी हिंदी में पढ़ें, क्लिक करें